From "engines" # 1218
This old way of life is a direct spin-off from the
days of slavery. Yet it has mutated into something
much more humane. The children play together --
and that heals wounds in ways no federal program
ever could. Beasley finishes her book on the old
alleys with a poignant photo -- a telephone pole with
a hand-lettered sign on it says OUR ALLEY IS
KATHARO. The Greek word katharo means
cleansed. There is pride of place here. And there is
community.

And the girl's name Katherine, is from the same root. I'll have to tell my grand-daughter that.

Catherine
5Fr < L Catharina, Ecaterina < Gr Aikaterinc; form and meaning infl. by katharos, pure, unsullied6
1 a feminine name: dim. Cathy, Kate, Kit, Kitty; var. Catharine; equiv. It. Caterina, Ir. Kathleen, Russ. Ekaterina, Scand. Karen, Sp. Catalina, Catarina
2 Catherine I c. 1684-1727; wife of Peter the Great; empress of Russia (1725-27)
3 Catherine II 1729-96; German-born empress of Russia (1762-96): called Catherine the Great
4 Saint (4th cent. A.D.); Christian martyr of Alexandria: her day is Nov. 25
5 Saint (1347-80); It. Dominican: her day is April 29: in full Saint Catherine of Siena

It later dawned on me that "Cathari" was a term for heretics in Middle Ages.
"From the Greek katharos, pure; literally "puritans", a name specifically applied to, or used by, several sects at various
periods. The Novatians of the third century were frequently known as Cathari, and the term was also used by the
Manichæans. In its more usual sense, Cathari was a general designation for the dualistic sects of the later Midde
Ages. Numerous other names were in vogue to denominate these heretics."

And it just dawned on me that a "cathartic" cleans you out. I still chuckle from ancient ad for
Nujol, a brand of mineral oil, that exhorted public to "Be clean inside as well as outside".